Back in 2016, Netflix launched the offline streaming download service, allowing users to download content and watch it offline on the go. In the Indian market, the feature has caught on, with a lot of everyday commuters relying heavily on it to keep themselves engaged even though they have no internet connection.
When you do not have access to an unrestricted data plan on your mobile device or in areas where the WiFi rates are unjustifiably exorbitant, the functionality is still very helpful (looking at you, luxury hotels). Netflix’s download functionality, though, has some drawbacks, something that you might already be aware of if you use the feature a lot.
If you’re a big user downloading a lot of movies or TV shows, so you may even have experienced any Netflix errors linked to the download cap. And what precisely is the Netflix Download Limit Error and how can you get around it? Keep reading to find out:
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What’s the fuss about the Netflix Download Limit Error?
Since the app encourages users to stream videos from Netflix to watch offline, there is a cap that prevents users from uploading too many movies or TV shows. A user can download a maximum of 100 titles from a single device at any given time, and you will be greeted with an error that prohibits them from installing any further content on that device, according to a Netflix help page on the subject,. In addition, you will only be able to stream titles on one, two, or four platforms at any given time, depending on the Netflix streaming package you’re using.
The titles downloaded also have a fixed expiration period, but depending on the licensing agreement Netflix has with the maker of that title, that varies from title to title. Users are only informed of an expiring update 7 days before the expiry date, and the download expires automatically if any downloaded material is deleted from the site. But why does Netflix have, to start with, a download limit? You’re paying a monthly fee now, so why does the site prevent you from installing the material you’ve already paid for? To answer that, let’s have a look at Netflix’s download policies.
Why is it that Netflix has a download limit?
Netflix has invested heavily in original programming in recent years and has built a large catalogue of movies, TV shows, and documentaries, but the company also has a lot of content from other content creators that it licenses. The Netflix download limit is what these license holders regulate and it ranges from title to title. The download limit imposed on each title is not disclosed by Netflix and users are only told of the download limit when there is only one final download remaining.
The expiration of the download of titles owned by other developers is often something set by the owners of content themselves, and it too differs a little from creator to creator. That tells us that while some downloaded titles do expire in just 48 hours, and for some, it may go on for weeks on end. There’s no way to figure out the exact expiry date, which is very inconvenient, particularly if you can’t watch the title within the expiry deadline, which would also count against the maximum number of downloads.
If you have spent the number of times you may download a certain title, you will have to wait a long time before you can download the same title again, provided that in their deal with Netflix, the content maker has a clause for that. While the same rationale for restricting downloads does not extend to Current Shows, the site does not offer any explanation as to why the original material still has a download cap.
Common Netflix Download Limit Error You Might Encounter
There is no way to tell whether you have hit a limit until you get an error message when you are attempting to stream Netflix episodes because the site is not upfront on its download restrictions. When you stream Netflix videos to watch offline, there are a few different errors you may find and you need to know what those errors mean before you can attempt to get around them. Here are some of the most common mistakes you can find when installing offline streaming material from Netflix:
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You have too many downloaded videos (Netflix Download Limit Error code:10016-22005)
Users can store a limit of 100 exclusive titles on a single computer at any given time, according to Netflix. You’ll see an error on your app that means you have so many downloaded videos on your computer if you surpass that download limit, which seems to be very unlikely. You’ll need to uninstall older downloads from your computer to download any more genres.
You have downloaded on too many devices (Netflix Download Limit Error code: 10016-23000)
Netflix allows you to stream content at any given time on one, two, or four devices, depending on your subscription package. An error message would show up alerting you that you have downloaded on many platforms if you attempt to download any more movies.
You have reached the yearly download limit for this video (Netflix Download Limit Error code: 10016-22007)
Netflix will prohibit you from installing a single title more than a few times, as stated earlier, with the amount of downloads dependent on the license deal with the content creator that the site has. If you download a single file more than a couple of times, Netflix will warn you that the annual download cap for that particular title has been hit. There is no way to circumvent this download cap and before you can download the title again, you will have to wait for the stipulated time frame.
How do you correct these Netflix errors?
Now that you are aware of the most common download limit-related errors that you may find on Netflix, let’s take a look at how the errors can be resolved:
How to repair the “You Have Too Many Downloaded Videos” error on Netflix
If you are trying to download a video and Netflix warns you that so many videos have already been downloaded, you will need to uninstall older files before the new download can begin. On iOS, Android, or Windows 10, you can remove older downloads by heading to the Downloads section of the Netflix app and choosing the titles you want to remove.
The app also allows you to uninstall all previous downloads at once, to free up a vast amount of room, allowing you the ability to download several titles at once. This Netflix help page lists fast and simple guidance on how to uninstall old downloads on Netflix for iOS, Android, and Windows 10 in case you face any trouble downloading older downloads.
How to fix Netflix’s error “You’ve got downloads on too many devices”
If you find the error ‘You have downloads on so many computers,’ all downloads from an older device would need to be deleted to resume uploading to a new device. You can remove all downloads from an older device using the same process listed above, so if you do not have access to the device, you can take these steps to delete downloads from an older device:
- In your window, open your Netflix account, hover your mouse on the profile icon in the upper right corner, and press the Account option in the drop-down menu.
- Under Settings, press the ‘Manage download devices‘ link and you will be guided to a page that lists all your linked devices that have downloaded content.
- Delete the old device from the list by pressing ‘Delete Device‘ under the relevant device button.
- It is now important to delete your older devices and all the videos stored on the device, allowing you to download more titles on your new device.
Manage downloadable content using Netflix Smart Downloads
You can make use of the Netflix Smart Downloads feature if you don’t want to go through the hassle of storing the downloaded videos on your computers. The function that was launched earlier this year for Android devices automatically downloads the next episode (only if you’re linked to WIFI) for the series you’re watching, while also removing the episodes you’ve watched before.
The functionality is only available on Android devices and it only deals for TV shows, as you would imagine. On your Android smartphone, you can activate the Smart Downloads functionality by going to the Downloads tab and tapping the Smart Downloads button in the upper left corner. Note that if there are more episodes to stream in your collection, then the Smart Downloads feature will function. And if no episodes are remaining, then the last viewed episode will not be removed.
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Without thinking about download restrictions, watch Netflix offline
With all the details mentioned above, you shouldn’t face any difficulties or restrictions on streaming Netflix videos and movies. You will also have to be cautious with the number of times you download a certain title, however, or you will have to wait a whole year before you can download it again.
You’ll still be able to access it online if you hit the maximum bandwidth limit for a single video, but you won’t be able to download it. Are you among the many people who are offline watching Netflix? What do you think of the restrictions on downloadable content that Netflix has imposed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
